THE killer of Cambuslang drug-dealer James McAlroy has failed for the second time to have his conviction overturned.

William Gage (40) was told last week by the Court of Criminal Appeal in Edinburgh that his appeal has been refused.

He was ordered to serve at least 20 years behind bars after shooting McAlroy outside his Acacia Way home in March 2002.

McAlroy’s wife, Tracy, was pregnant at the time and watched as Gage made his getaway. She later told a court she would “never forget the eyes.”

The court heard that McAlroy was murdered over a £50,000 drug debt just days after he had been rubbing shoulders with Scotland’s then First Minister Jack McConnell and other prominent Lanarkshire Labour MPs and activists, during a special Red Rose dinner.

Gage was convicted of the execution-style murder in 2004.

However, he has always maintained he is the victim of mistaken identity.

He was previously unsuccessful in a 2006 attempt for freedom.

His latest appeal was referred to the court by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review.

His appeal sought to convince judges he did not get a fair trial.

He challenged claims that a burned-out Saab car had been used in the shooting as his getaway vehicle.

The appeal also criticised evidence in support of the identification of the clothing in the car as that worn by the killer and the identification by Mrs McAlory of Gage as being the person leaving the scene of the murder.

In a written ruling, Lord Hamilton, sitting with Lords Reed, Carloway, Mackay and Nimmo Smith, said: “Qualitative criticisms can undoubtedly be made of the evidence in each of these strands but, when the evidence is looked at as a whole, the case against the appellant was, in our view, compelling.”

They added that they were not persuaded the trial was unfair.

The decision concluded: “In all circumstances this appeal must be refused."”

Supporters of Gage have vowed to continue the fight.

Speaking outside the court, his solicitor, Aamer Anwar, said: “For eight years William Gage has protested his innocence and we will continue to do so.

“He is deeply disappointed by the decision.

“Once we have an opportunity to read the judgment we will consider whether to seek an appeal to the Supreme Court.”

The Reformer contacted Mrs McAlroy but she did not wish to comment on the situation.